GOOD OLD FASHIONED COPS AND ROBBERS : "FOYLE’S WAR"

Oh I know what your problem is… You want a nice, old-fashioned police drama. All the Hollywood adrenaline and the European intrigue are well and good but let’s go back to basics eh? I’m talking about cops and robbers, you know, policeman catching criminals, have we got none of those worth mentioning this week? Well of course we do. The thing is of course, this is me we’re talking about so I’m going to throw in a period drama. This one is a particular favorite of my 88 year-old grandmother (Mom if you’re reading this do tell her she got a mention!) and so I can safely guarantee that it will completely suit the tastes of those who are fond of the classics and nothing but… And OK, between you and me, I have to admit I rather like it too…
Now to the reason my grandmother likes this one so much. It is set entirely during the Second World War, in the U.K. Inspector Foyle (brought to life by Michael Kitchen) would very much like to go to the front, in fact he has volunteered to do so several times, but his age, his job and the fact that he is so good at has kept him in his small town in the English countryside. Every little bit counts and every one must do his bit as Foyle combats crime with the added burden of the necessities of war and the worry brought on him by the fact that his son is a fighter pilot in the R.A.F.
This series is actually an understated, good quality period drama with undertones of a crime drama, and when you think about it this is no mean feat. Although they are pretty much ten a penny these days, period dramas are rather difficult to get right. Especially if the period in question is WW2, as so many films have been made and books have been written about it that it is being regarded – among the audience anyway – as “that hoary old chestnut”. Foyle is unpretentious. The acting, by leading actor ?? is excellent. The mise en scene coupled with delicate and more importantly un - dramatic references to the war does take the “chestnut” flavor away; since it is so well done, as we watch we get the impression that we are watching something actual and real, it is not as contrived as some WW2 films around. When you combine that with good and exciting plotlines what more do you need really? If ever you doubted that quality and crime drama didn’t really go together, this is the fella to change your way of thinking…